North Germany Research Articles

Characteristics and risk factors for sibling incest.

Sibling sexual behaviour, despite historical and cross-cultural incest taboos and biologically driven incest avoidance, poses a persistent problem. We tested factors theorized to be associated with sibling incest in a cross-sectional online survey of 1,863 respondents with siblings mainly from North America and Germany. We found that 13% of participants reported engaging in sexual contact with a sibling, typically starting at the age of 10, and that step-siblings and half-siblings were more likely to engage in sibling incest than full siblings. Curiosity and games were the primary motivators; being coerced was more prevalent among female and younger participants. The study underscores both individual (e.g., impulsivity, concurrent childhood sexual behaviour problems) and family level factors (e.g., presence of step-sibling, positive attitudes toward nudity, sexual abuse by parent) influencing liability to engage in sexual behaviours with a sibling. Findings were robust across English- and German-speaking participants, suggesting our results are generalizable. Professionals addressing problematic child sexual behaviour should assess for concurrent sibling incest, and evaluate positive family attitudes towards nudity, sexual abuse by parents, and reduced disgust to sibling incest as potential risk factors for sibling incest. The findings stress the need for comprehensive sexual education in blended households, where age gaps and diminished genetic relatedness contribute to sibling sexual behaviour.

The Eemian Stage interglacial marine transgression in the south-western Baltic region

Abstract. Through detailed investigations, three sequences of marine and associated deposits in the south-west Baltic area are shown to represent the Eemian interglacial transgression. Pollen analyses and foraminiferal and ostracod analyses are combined to provide the evolution of relative sea-level change. An independent chronology is established by correlation of the pollen record with that from the Bispingen laminated lake deposits in north Germany. Additional published sites from the area are included in a wider reconstruction of events. Ostracod analyses indicate that freshwater lakes initially existed in the basin prior to the marine inundation. This was followed by an early marine transgression. In the south-west Baltic the first marine ingression took place at the base of regional pollen zone E3, with fully marine conditions established in E4 continuing into the lower part of E5. The regression of the sea during zone E6 was followed by freshwater deposition in E7. The linking of the sequences in the south-west Baltic demonstrates that the Eemian transgression occurred both through northern Germany and through the Danish belts–Kattegat seaway, indicating that connections to the North Sea and North Atlantic were present in the area during the maximum interglacial sea-level highstand.

Scurvy-Anow forgotten previously widespread disease

From the sea voyages of the fifteenth century often lasting for years with provisions only of fish, salted meat and biscuits reports came of fatal health alterations of the seamen which were characterized by prostration, loss of teeth and bad breath.Reports on comparable endemic illnesses soon came from the Netherlands, North Germany, the Baltic area, France, Lorraine, Geneva, Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Swabia and Russia: the so-called land scurvy. The first medical specification was found in aletter from 1541 by Johann Echt to colleges in the area of Lower Germany, which was published four times. One of the first comprehensive considerations was prepared by the English physician James Lind. Scurvy was also mostly published under many local names, such as Skorbut, Scharbock or Scheurbuik.The pathology of scurvy is dominated by gingival necrosis with loss of teeth, hemorrhages with destruction of the cartilage-bone border especially of the ribs and by subperiosteal hemorrhages of the ribs and long bones.For treatment and prevention of scurvy eating green plants as originally Ficaria verna (lesser celandine, pilewort), Chelidonium majus (great celandine, nipplewort, tetterwort) and Cochlearia officinalis (scurvy grass) proved to be effective. Where green plants were missing decoctions of conifer needles and fresh animal innards were used. When the infantile disease originally named "acute rachitis" in England was diagnosed as scurvy (later Möller-Barlow disease) the treatment of cow's milk for baby food became of great interest.Finally, hexuronic acid, later called ascorbic acid or vitaminC, was found to be adrug that could easily dosed for curing and prevention of scurvy.

Understanding honor and dignity in North Indian and German cultural contexts

This study explores culturally shared connotations of honor and dignity in North India and Germany. Both, honor and dignity refer to the worth of a person but have distinct psychological implications. Honor as both an independent and interdependent phenomenon varies greatly across cultural groups. Yet, a relatively large volume of research is focused on Middle Eastern, Muslim cultures. Moreover, though a rich body of literature shows that dignity can have different meanings across cultural contexts, its nuanced understanding, particularly in relation to honor, remains underexplored in cross-cultural settings. Given this, the current study expands both these concepts to India with its unique religious and structural characteristics and studies it along with the responses of participants in Germany, examining their cultural differences. Eleven focus group discussions were conducted in North India and Germany where participants discussed their personal associations of both honor and dignity. These discussions were transcribed and later thematically analyzed. The findings indicated unique themes for honor (duty, morality, status, sociability, and stoicism) and dignity (individuality, self-governance, resistance, and enrichment) with some dimensional similarities for both cultural groups, despite dissimilar language usage. Furthermore, the five themes for honor were seen to affect differently depending on its enhancement or loss and its eventual impact on the target of honor, self, or group. As for dignity, participants in both groups had difficulties distinguishing it from honor but had a clear understanding of its intrinsic nature, especially when seen in contradiction with honor. These findings have theoretical and practical implications, particularly while studying different cultural groups together. Moreover, they contribute to the literature on self-worth by refining the idea of dignity, while also expanding our multidimensional understanding of honor.

International differences in the selection and outcome of minimally invasive and open distal pancreatectomy: A transatlantic analysis

BackgroundThe efficacy and safety of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy have been confirmed by randomized trials, but current patient selection and outcome of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy in large international cohorts is unknown. This study aimed to compare the use and outcome of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy in North America, the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden. MethodsAll patients in the 4 Global Audits on Pancreatic Surgery Group (GAPASURG) registries who underwent minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy or open distal pancreatectomy during 2014–2020 were included. ResultsOverall, 20,158 distal pancreatectomies were included, of which 7,316 (36%) were minimally invasive distal pancreatectomies. Use of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy varied from 29% to 54% among registries, of which 13% to 35% were performed robotically. Both the use of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy and robotic surgery were the highest in the Netherlands. Patients undergoing minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy tended to have a younger age (Germany and Sweden), female sex (North America, Germany), higher body mass index (North America, the Netherlands, Germany), lower comorbidity classification (North America, Germany, Sweden), lower performance status (Germany), and lower rate of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (all). The minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy group had fewer vascular resections (all) and lower rates of severe complications and mortality (North America, Germany). In the multivariable regression analysis, country was associated with severe complications but not with 30-day mortality. Minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy was associated with a lower risk of 30-day mortality compared with open distal pancreatectomy (odds ratio 1.633, 95% CI 1.159–2.300, P = .005). ConclusionsConsiderable disparities were seen in the use of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy among 4 transatlantic registries of pancreatic surgery. Overall, minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy was associated with decreased mortality as compared with open distal pancreatectomy. Differences in patient selection among countries could imply that countries are in different stages of the learning curve.

Assessing the Volatility of Daily Maximum Temperature across Germany between 1990 and 2022

Climate change causes a global rise in mean air temperature and an increased frequency of temperature extremes. Recent studies link sharp temperature changes between consecutive days to increased mortality, reduced economic growth, and negative effects on ecosystems. This study assesses the variability of the daily maximum air temperature between two consecutive days (i.e., temperature volatility) across Germany from 1990 to 2022. Using observation-based raster data of maximum daily temperature at 0.1° × 0.1° spatial resolution, we assess temperature volatility regarding: (1) magnitude, (2) seasonality, (3) directionality (day-to-day warming vs. cooling), and (4) trends. Further, we analyse land cover changes during the period and examine their correlation to extreme temperature volatility (Tve). The results show that Tve mostly occurred during spring and summer. The magnitude of Tve increased with distance to the coast north-west to south during all seasons and was highest during spring and summer (>10 °C). Overall, Tve was particularly associated with day-to-day cooling (in spring, summer, autumn), while in winter, >60% of days were associated with warming in north and central Germany. Less than 12% of Germany showed significant trends in median Tve associated with warming over the period. Significant trends included increases (>0.26 °C/year) and decreases (−0.09 °C/year) in extreme day-to-day warming during autumn and winter in northeastern Germany. In spring, the majority (>60%) of southern areas showed significant positive trends (up to 0.16 °C/year) in Tve associated with day-to-day cooling. During winter, summer, and autumn, trends in extreme day-to-day cooling were insignificant in over 80% of Germany. Within all land cover types, Tve predominantly varied between 6 °C and 9 °C. Changes in land cover, especially transforming coniferous forests for agricultural purposes, were accompanied by increasing Tve up to 0.49 °C. Understanding rapid temperature changes is crucial for climate change mitigation strategies and limiting the impacts on human health and on the environment.

First molecular detection of Brachyspira hampsonii on pig farms in Poland.

Nowadays, the three strongly beta-haemolytic spirochaetes, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, Brachyspira suanatina and Brachyspira hampsonii are thought to be causative agents of swine dysentery, an economically devastating disease of grow-finish pigs characterised by severe mucohaemorrhagic diarrhoea. B. hyodysenteriae has been reported in most leading swine-producing regions. B. suanatina and B. hampsonii have been successfully recovered from faecal samples collected in a few countries only. Thepresent study was performed in March 2023 on faecal samples originating from nine Polish finisher farms with 6,000 to 18,000 animals in a location. Samples were obtained from 40 diarrhoeic finishers. Nucleic acid extracted from the samples was analysed using multiplex PCR for Brachyspira spp. From a total of nine sample populations examined in our study, the genetic material of B. hampsonii was identified in two. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on molecular detection of B. hampsonii on pig farms outside North America, Belgium and Germany. Our research highlights the need for increased focus directed on laboratory testing strategies, the lack of which may perplex swine practitioners and severely hinder a definite diagnosis.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Challenging Anatomies

TANJA Rudolph, Heart and Diabetes Center North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; and Carla Romina Agatiello, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina, chaired a captivating session exploring the challenges associated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with complex aortic stenosis. The European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) hosted the session during the 35th Annual EuroPCR Global Course held in Paris, France, between the 14th–17th of May. The primary objectives of the session were to evaluate and emphasise the importance of detailed CT imaging and pre-procedural planning in TAVI. Moreover, the session focused on how the selected valve and implant techniques in aortic stenosis can be tailored to individual patient anatomy.

Women's expectations, preferences and needs in midwifery care – results from the qualitative Midwifery Care (MiCa) study: Childbirth and early parenthood

ObjectiveThe main goals of our study were (I) the investigation of expectations and preferences as well as (II) the determination of needs of women in regard to midwifery care. DesignDescriptive phenomenology was used to investigate the ways in which women experienced childbirth and early parenthood. A descriptive qualitative research design was chosen, using focus groups. Settingix online focus groups were carried out with 19 women for this part of the Midwifery Care (MiCa) study, mainly from the north of Germany. ParticipantsWomen shortly after birth, in puerperium and the first year after childbirth were recruited in Germany. A purposeful strategy according to maximum variation sampling was applied to reach diversity in the sample regarding age and previous children. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis, according to Mayring, with support of the qualitative data analysis software MAXQDA 2022. FindingsSix main categories were derived for both childbirth and early parenthood: (a) involvement of family, (b) need for information, (c) physical and psychological aspects and (d) orientation in the healthcare system. In each group, one main category about provision of healthcare was developed: (e) care around childbirth and (f) midwifery care in early parenthood. Women attached great importance to the communication with midwives and favoured the involvement of their partners in the childbirth process and during parenting. Based on different experiences and inconsistency of information, women would prefer consistency in staff and communication as well as standardised information. ConclusionsFrom the user's perspective, midwifery care is crucial during childbirth and the child's first year of life. Current health care during and after childbirth and early parenthood lacks individualised care models, emotional support, adequate and professional communication between different health care providers, and consistency in midwifery care. Our findings should be translated into health care delivery with effective interprofessional teamwork within the continuity of midwifery care. Further quantitative research should analyse the individual healthcare situations of women in the reproductive phase of their life as well as of the applied healthcare models in order to personalise care and to improve healthcare quality.

Eye to I: Panoptic Muslim Surveillance and Warsan Shire’s Poetics of Liberation

In 1786, French architect Jeremy Bentham envisioned the panopticon, a structure in which prison cells surround an opaque tower where guards surveil the prisoners. In the panopticon, prisoners could be observed by guards without knowing when they were being watched, making them trained for constant vigilance. My research places this centuries-old theoretical model against contemporary Muslim surveillance, arguing that the panopticon is a way to more deeply and thoroughly understand the omnipresent surveillance weaponized against Muslim communities after 9/11. More broadly, I refuse to dilute the impact of internalized and externalized policing on marginalized communities. I investigate how post-9/11 surveillance in Nairobi places Muslim communities into a prison-like structure in which they are repeatedly watched, affecting their internal psyche— the art form of poetry written by these marginalized groups allows for a deeper viewing and dissection of this surveillance. Invoking French philosopher Michel Foucault, who drew from the panopticon in his literary theories on discipline, with first-hand ethnographic research on Muslim surveillance from contemporary scholars living in Nairobi, Kenya, I pose a literary-ethnographic stance regarding how we can view the lasting impacts of Muslim surveillance. In analyzing the detrimental conditions of surveillance in postcolonial Kenya, I also investigate how a key contemporary poet, Warsan Shire, breaks free from these boundaries through her artistic work, which focuses on the generational and haunting implications of surveillance in her own Muslim community. Shire herself was born in Kenya and migrated to the United Kingdom with her family when she was a young child. Her poetry, both spoken and written, has now reached global audiences in North America, Germany, and South Africa and has influenced the contemporary literary canon. Catechizing Muslim surveillance through meshing literary and anthropological research, I hope to dismantle the post 9-/11 prison-panopticon of inspection, emphasizing the role of artistry in liberation and resistance.

Review of the rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from the Pliocene of Willershausen, Germany.

The rove beetle fauna (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) (excluding the subfamily Silphinae) of the PlioceneofWillershausen (Lower Saxony, North Germany) is reviewed based on the type and other material of previously described or reported taxa, as well as two new specimens. Six subfamilies are represented in the deposit, with two subfamilial assignments considered tentative: Aleocharinae?, Micropeplinae, Oxytelinae, Paederinae, Staphylininae? and Tachyporinae. Pliosyntomium Korge, 1967 syn. nov. is placed as a junior synonym of PaederusFabricius, 1775. The following new combination is established: Paederusschmidti (Korge, 1967) comb. nov. All rove beetle fossils from Willershausen housed in theCollections of theGeoscienceMuseum, University of Gottingen.

A novel socio-techno-environmental GIS approach to assess the contribution of ground-mounted photovoltaics to achieve climate neutrality in Germany

The German government’s goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2045 and increasing the use of renewable energy, particularly wind and solar power, has public support. However, the local siting of wind and solar farms is highly controversial due to land-use conflicts. We have developed a comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) model that integrates criteria from the literature to identify optimal locations for ground-mounted photovoltaic (GM-PV). The model is based on a holistic approach considering energy-related factors and broader environmental and climate aspects. The unique feature of the model is its integration of socio-technical and environmental criteria, including a novel approach to achieving a dual land-use climate benefit by protecting erosion-prone soils and conserving soil carbon in areas prone to organic matter decomposition and associated CO2 release. Our multi-criteria GM-PV model includes 12 restrictions and five suitability criteria representing key socio-technical, economic and environmental aspects. Scenario analysis highlights the sensitivity of Germany’s GM-PV potential to defined criteria. In Scenario 1, with minimal constraint, 14.2 % of Germany’s land is available for GM-PV, decreasing to 1.9 % in the highly constrained Scenario 12. Suitable areas (>10 ha) account for 0.4 % of Germany’s land area, which could cover 8.1 % of Germany’s electricity consumption in 2045 in the highly restricted scenario. The spatial distribution results show that the innovative approach of the model changes the preference of GM-PV locations based on factors such as solar radiation in the south and soil carbon storage in the north of Germany. The application of restriction and suitability criteria significantly reduces the potential for GM-PV in Germany but also potential pitfalls for decision-makers. The GIS model can be applied in regional context to integrate stakeholder values and generate region-specific scenarios, as criteria and thresholds can be easily adapted to regional characteristics, preferences, and concerns, including those related to agriculture, biodiversity, and social acceptance.

Detection of endotoxins from selected drinking water microbiota using an LAL-based assay and its implications for human health.

Endotoxins are pyrogenic lipopolysaccharides from Gram-negative bacteria that are known to induce fever, septic shock, and multiple organ failure, posing a substantial risk to human health. Drinking water systems are especially prone to home microbiomes containing a large variety of Gram-negative bacteria. Consumption of water from these systems in developed countries is generally regarded as non-hazardous to humans due to the low number of non-pathogenic bacterial cells per milliliter and oral admission. To assess potential risks posed by endotoxins in drinking water systems, we conducted a conventional microbiological investigation on a local community water system in the north of Germany and mined the resulting data to investigate the endotoxin contents of some of the most abundant microbiota found during these analyses. Using a Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) -based endotoxin detection method, average normalized endotoxin content was determined. Although the average culturable amounts of microbiota in the drinking water system were insufficient to exert endotoxin levels critical to human health, peaks and acute contaminations may pose substantial health risks.

Reliability-based leading edge erosion maintenance strategy selection framework

Leading edge erosion has become one of the most prevailing failure modes of wind turbines. Its effects can evolve from an aerodynamic modification of the properties of the blade to a potential structural failure of the leading edge. The first produces a reduction of energy production and the second can produce a catastrophic failure of the blade. Considering the uncertainties and constraints involved in the design of optimal operation and maintenance (O&M) strategies for offshore assets and the influence of site-specific parameters on the dynamics of this particular failure mode, the task becomes complex. In this study, a framework to evaluate the influence of different maintenance strategies considering uncertainties in weather, material behaviour and repair success is presented. Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) is used alongside a computational framework for Leading Edge Erosion (LEE) degradation to evaluate the lifetime cost distribution and probability of failure of the chosen maintenance strategies. The use of the framework is demonstrated in a case study considering a 5-MW offshore wind turbine located in the north of Germany. The influence of the modification of the maintenance interval or time between repairs and the comparison with maintenance activities executed only during months with milder weather is analysed in terms of cost and reliability. A Pareto front plot considering the probability of failure and the median of the cost is used to jointly compare strategies considering both aspects to provide a tool for risk-informed maintenance selection. Finally, the potential benefits of condition-based maintenance and autonomous decision-making systems are discussed. The case of study shows the benefits of repairs during summer months and the importance of the relation risk/O&M cost for different maintenance strategies.

Improved estimation of extreme floods with data pooling and mixed probability distribution

The accurate estimation of flood probability is crucial for designing water storage and flood retention structures. However, the assumption of identical distribution in flood samples is unrealistic, given the influence of various flood mechanisms. To address this challenge, we proposed a novel framework based on flood clustering and data pooling that encompasses the key steps such as 1) flood event separation based on a peak-detection flood separation algorithm, 2) grouping flood events using the k-prototypes algorithm, 3) application of the UNprecedented Simulated Extreme ENsemble (UNSEEN) approach to pool reforecast ensemble datasets, and 4) statistical mixing approach to derive common quantiles from all the flood groups. We applied the framework to the Dresden gauge in the Elbe River for a detailed case study. Various tests have been performed to assess the applicability of the UNSEEN approach and the reforecast dataset consistently shows the potential for data pooling. The proposed methodology outperformed the classical approach in terms of goodness-of-fit. The relative difference between the classical and the proposed approach ((classical-proposed)/proposed) for the 100-year return level is 0.16, with a reduction in root mean square error (RMSE) value from 163 to 98 m3/s. Further, replication of the approach to the gauges in North Germany exhibited a relative difference ranging from −0.3 to +0.15 and produced better estimates in terms of RMSE compared with the traditional model. In summary, the proposed framework offers a better estimation of flood probability by addressing the inherent sample inhomogeneity along with the inclusion of unprecedented flood samples.

Identifying exurbs: A multi-criteria approach for Germany

The debate about exurbanites and exurbs has ever been an Anglo-American phenomenon. Due to the limitless space for growth and the individual preferences of living in single-family homes, the exurban census tracts were the fastest growing urban type in the USA for several decades. The increase in highway infrastructure lead to an auto-centric development of land and an ongoing urban sprawl in search for natural amenities and affordable housing. This was not the case in Europe for a long time as Europeans preferred to live closer to the place of work and the historically grown structures of the urban development. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic and the restructuring of a new office culture with remote work as the new condition and growing preferences for more living space and green amenities, exurbs could also evolve in the European context. In this investigation, the authors try to identify exurbs in the German context based on a multi-criteria analysis. We find that they are mostly located in the east and north of Germany around Hamburg and Berlin, and to a minor extent to the west and south of Germany. While there has not been a significant increase of exurbs in the past years, the question remains whether the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the exurbanisation and the related issues to a sustainable urban development according to SDG 11. Further research on the characteristics of exurbs is needed to provide additional policy recommendations and monitor the development of potential exurbs in the future.

A comparison of ligatures on gravestones in Scotland, Northern Germany and the French Basque region

Although ligatures have a long history and can be found on a range of artefacts, they are particularly characteristic of gravestone inscriptions of the 17th and 18th centuries in several parts of Western Europe. The grouping of two or more letters as a ligature can be attributed to minimising mason’s costs and workload, or stone brittleness, but it is suggested that their function was primarily a space-saving device. This research, based solely on statistical analysis, suggests that there may be other, possibly more common, reasons as to why they were employed in gravestone inscriptions. Ligatures have an uneven distribution throughout Western Europe. They are especially frequent in gravestone inscriptions from north and south-west Scotland, Northern Germany and the French Basque region. These areas were selected for analysis. Ligatures were recorded from 36 sites in northern and south-western Scotland, 35 sites in Northern Germany and 24 sites in the French Basque region. Frequencies at each site were calculated. The most common ligature in Scotland and north Germany was HE and in the French Basque region it was DE. All ligature frequencies were compared with the frequencies of bigrams in English, German and French to determine whether or not this influenced their frequency in gravestone inscriptions. It was found that there was no evidence of correlation between gravestone ligatures and bigrams in any of the three languages. The possible reasons for the use of ligatures are discussed.

Orthodontists' instructions for oral hygiene in patients with removable and fixed orthodontic appliances.

The aim of this questionnaire-based survey was to evaluate information on frequencies, instructions and products relating to oral hygiene (OH) in orthodontic practices. Using a computer-generated randomization list, 1000 orthodontists were selected and sent a questionnaire. The size and number of inhabitants of the federal states of Germany were considered. The federal states with the highest return rate (Baden-Wuerttemberg [BW], Bavaria [B], Hesse [H], Lower Saxony [LS], Nordrhein-Westphalia [NRW]) were considered and differences between the 16 federal states were divided into North, South, East and Central Germany. The response rate of the questionnaires was 52.4%. The majority (53.8%) worked in one practice alone. Most (59.1%) have been orthodontists for 5-25 years. For vestibular multibracket appliances (MBA) in BW, B, H and LS over 90% recommended interdental brushes (IDB). In NRW 91.4% recommend fluoride gel. In B and H more than 80% chose electric toothbrush (ETB), in BW, LS and NRW more than 80% manual toothbrush (MTB). For lingual MBA (LMBA) in BW, H, LS and NRW with approximately 50% each fluoride gel, IDB and MTB were chosen. In B fluoride gel, IDB and ETB. For removable apparatus (RA), five federal states recommended MTB (>80%) and ETB (BW, B, H > 80%; NRW > 70%; LS > 60%). Electric toothbrushes are recommended for the use with all appliances, only with removable appliances manual toothbrushes are favoured. For vestibular MBA it is strongly advised to use IDB additionally.

Steffani’s Amor vien dal Destino: new answers to old questions

Abstract Steffani made an important contribution to the cultivation of Italian opera in north Germany. Amor vien dal Destino must have been composed at Hanover in the 1690s but was not performed until 1709, at Düsseldorf. Several questions arise. Was it meant for 1694, the only year during his period at Hanover when there was no opera at the court? If so, why was it not performed? Why was it not performed before 1709? Why was it then staged at Düsseldorf? Why and how was the opera revised for that production? Who were the singers involved? Answers emerge from consideration of the Düsseldorf wordbook (especially its preface), of the autograph score and a hitherto neglected manuscript copy in Hanover, and of the circumstances of the two courts concerned. If these answers are correct, they demonstrate a close relationship between the opera and its social and political context.

Monitoring a cohort of trainees: changes over time and associations between health literacy, health behaviour and health

BackgroundFor many entrants, the initial stages of professional training are a challenge. Demands at work can lead to new physical and psychological stress, as well as new social requirements. These new requirements can influence the health behaviour and the state of health of young employees. In recent years, there have been many studies on health literacy (HL). HL represents resources and potentials that allow individuals to achieve improved control of their health and of factors that influence health. Thus, HL can influence both well-being and health. In the present study, the health of trainees in different branches (health and welfare services, office, sales, technology) is monitored over time ending in the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the association between health literacy and health or health behaviour has been examined.MethodsIn 2017/18, a baseline survey (T0) was performed on trainees in various sectors (office, sales, teaching, nursing and social welfare, engineering, hairdressers), who had been contacted through vocational colleges in four federal states in north Germany. The trainees were surveyed again in the in the first year after training in 2021 (T3). Demographic data were collected, as well as information on health literacy (HLS-EU-16), health behaviour (physical exercise, nutrition, smoking and alcohol) and state of health (BMI, psychological well-being and subjective state of health). Recognition, satisfaction at work and thoughts of leaving the profession were surveyed with the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). Statistical analysis was performed with tests for paired samples and multivariate regression analysis in SPSS 26.Results129 data sets were evaluated, with a follow-up rate of 10.2%. 85% of the trainees were female. The mean age at follow-up was 25.6 years. 56% were employed in the health service or social welfare. 35% worked in the office, sales or engineering. At T3, 47% of the employees exhibited limited health literacy, 67% low levels of exercise and 30% risky alcohol use. 42% exhibited overweight and 42% poor psychological well-being. An association between health literacy (HL) and psychological well-being was only observed in cross-section (HL inadequate vs. HL adequate OR: 3.2 95% CI: 1.07–9.49, p = 0.037). The odds ratio relative to subjective state of health was also increased, although the association was not statistically significant (HL inadequate vs. HL adequate OR: 2.7 95% CI: 0.72–9.78, p = 0.143). In the sector for health service and social welfare, there was statistically significant deterioration over time in all COPSOQ variables (recognition, satisfaction at work, thoughts of leaving the profession).ConclusionsFor a group of trainees in the first year of work during the covid-19 epidemic, the present findings show that there is a need to prevent risky health behaviour, overweight and poor psychological well-being. Health literacy was shown to be a modifiable parameter, that apparently is associated in cross – but not in longitudinal section with the health of young employees. It would appear to be reasonable to modify developing health literacy in the setting of work and school.